3 December 2009 Edition

WO young IRA Volunteers, Henry Hogan and Declan Martin, who were killed in an engagement with British forces in the mainly nationalist village of Dunloy, north County Antrim, in February 1984, were honoured on Sunday with the re-dedication of a memorial garden where Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney was the keynote speaker.
Henry Hogan was just 20 years old and Declan Martin even younger, at 18, when they died on active service.
The young men were described by a comrade in An Phoblacht in the wake of their deaths as "courageous and dedicated Volunteers for whom fear held no meaning and to whom no task was too menial or too great". Free article

IT'S a familiar story. They arrive at dawn to kick in your door while the media provides the kind of political cover that avoids public disquiet. Facts are distorted, lies told and then the circus moves on, for everyone but those who have been targeted. Their lives and livelihoods are disrupted, their reputations smeared and prospects darkened. As one raiding officer from the Serious Organised Crime Agency candidly told Seán Hughes last month: "It's payback time." Free article

PRESSURE is building against Catholic bishops named in The Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, also known as the Murphy Report, with widespread dissatisfaction with their responses to date.
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said on Tuesday that he is writing to Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray and others to say that their responses are a matter for the people of the Dublin Archdiocese and not their own dioceses. Free article

DEPUTY First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA met at the weekend with An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD in Tullamore County Offaly. The meeting lasted for over one hour.
Speaking afterwards Martin McGuinness said:
"Today's meeting was both useful and constructive. An Taoiseach and I are both agreed that there can be no preconditions on the transfer of Policing and Justice powers. Free article

THE number of people challenging past convictions by Diplock courts continues to grow with the figure currently standing at around a hundred. Hundreds more ex-prisoners are expected to place their cases before the Review Commission.
Speaking at a press conference last Friday, Jim McVeigh of the ex-prisoners' group, Coiste na n-Iarchimí appealed for other former political prisoners who feel they have been victims of a miscarriage of justice to come forward. McVeigh urged them to either contact Coiste or their own solicitors. Free article

THE battle for economic equality in the Six Counties marks the 25th anniversary of the MacBride Principles for Fair Employment next Wednesday with a major civic reception in New York City Hall.
Sinn Féin junior Minister, Gerry Kelly MLA, will speak at the event, which is being hosted by the Speaker and President of New York City Council Christine Quinn. Free article

Sinn Féin Bookshop

58 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Phone: (00 353 1) 8148542

Bulk orders available

Speaking in the Seanad on Tuesday Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty accused the Government of lying to people when it says there is no alternative to the budget of cuts which it is set to announce next week.
Doherty said there is an onus on all parties who oppose the Government's strategy to put forward their own ideas. Free article